Torah and Today
Welcome to Torah and Today with Rabbi Ken Brodkin. On this podcast, you can expect weekly wisdom as we explore how the Torah guides our lives in modern times. Tune in for insight on your Jewish journey. We'll draw from a mix of Torah sources as we grapple with issues we face as Jews in contemporary society. This podcast is produced with the support of Congregation B'nai Israel in Manalapan NJ.
Episodes
In recent months, antisemitism has moved from lurking in the shadows to being alarmingly out in the open. According to the ADL, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents were reported in the U.S. in the year following October 7.
What drives this phenomenon? Is it a product of the right or the left? While Israel has numerous friends in the United States, antisemitism exists across the political spectrum.
What do we make of this paradox? How d...
According to early Christianity, Jews not accepting Jesus stood in the way of global. Jesus eventually became a profoundly influential figure through the gospels. According to those gospels, Jesus claimed to be the king of Israel.
What do we make of this claim? Did Jesus believe he was the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophetic vision of Messiah? To make sense of this, we explore that background of Jewish monarchy and more.
Chanukah is not only a time for celebrating with latkes and donuts, but it’s a gateway talking about our faith in HaShem. Meaningful conversation about our connection to God is vital in addressing mental health challenges and the “Meaning Crisis.”
When Yaakov was running and destitute, he dedicated a house of God with a flask of oil and a single stone. In so doing, he initiated our Jewish connection to the Har HaBayit (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem.
As Jews, we continue along his path of dedicating holy space wherever our journey takes us. How do we find or consecrate holy space in our lives, especially when we find ourselves—like Yaakov—in a place of desperation?
The month of Kislev brings us Chanukah, one of the most powerful symbols of the Jewish people. And one of the most poignant symbols of Chanukah is the Driedel. What does this children’s toy teach us about being Jewish in or outside of the land of Israel?
It’s that time of when year end holidays are in the air. But this can be a challenging time for those struggling with loneliness, including people who want to be grandparents. Why are many young adults choosing to remain child-free, and what is Judaism’s message for them?
Plus, Jewish Emunah (faith) and gratitude to God were an inspiration for the people who gave us the modern holiday of Thanksgiving.
It’s hard to think of a more influential person in human history than Avraham. The prophet Isaiah teaches us that this influential figure and founder of Israel was beloved to HaShem. But why did God love Avraham? The answer to this question—alluded to in Genesis 18, 19—is a key for understanding how we shine our light into today’s world.
The life of Ruth and the Chag of Shavuot helps us to connect with a path that can immediately change our lives for the better: gratitude.
The Jewish people face unprecedented challenges in our times. How do we prepare for the future in these days of great trials? 2,600 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah taught us a lesson in faith in a time when destruction was at the door—literally. His act of audacious hope is beckons us today.
The generation that returned from Bavel to Jerusalem reveled in their “rediscovery” of the Chag of Sukkos. Their modest celebration holds a lesson for our lives.
Israeli singer Ishay Ribo takes us into the soul of the Kohen Gadol through his “Seder HaAvoda,” a song with 10 million views on YouTube.
Why is a song about Yom Kippur enthralling to people of all backgrounds? What can we learn from the Kohen’s journey in our lives today?
During the Hebrew month of Elul, we contemplate the palpable presence of the King. How do we utilize these weeks to prepare for the Days of Awe? What does it mean for us to desire a King?
What happens when your friend or loved one tries to sway you against your better judgment? How do you eschew the desires of loved ones, or the society around you? The Torah’s discussion of friends enticing us to worship idols is instructive for our times.
The prophets teach us that we have a hunger and a thirst for something beyond bread & water: we seek to absorb the word of God. What steps can we take to discover and connect with the spiritual roots we yearn for?
The Torah tells us that will shall diligently pursue justice. We also learn that God is perfect and just. Yet, for all the Torah’s focus on justice, there seems to be plenty of injustice in our world. How do we square the existence injustice with a Just God? How can we be emissaries of justice and truth in our imperfect world?
The life of Rebbi Akiva is a model for how we overcome challenges in life, as we grow closer to Torah. Join us as we reflect on how Shavuos can propel us forward in this path.
Mishlei teaches us that we “may not forsake the Torah of our mother.” According to our rabbis, “our mother” refers to the Jewish people. In this episode, we delve into the significance of this received tradition, that has defined Jewish life from generation to generation.
The Torah presents holiness as a common a comprehensive calling for the Jewish people. What does holiness, or sanctity, have to do with our happiness? What, according to Judaism, leads a person to happiness?
While speech and expression are vital parts of our lives, a Mishna sheds light on the power of silence.
Several months after Rosh HaShana, we begin Nisan which is called “the first of months.” This month of spring is a reminder that renewal and rejuvenation are possible even months into our year. Renewal is a powerful Jewish strength that comes to the fore at this auspicious time.
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!